Does anyone know if Leylandii are a protected species? I have two in my garden that I want to fell.
Thanks
Beverley

Hi Beverley,
I have just found the following which I presume is correct. Cheers Les
Leylandii is basically not a tree but a hedge and will not be protected. Leylandii will never be covered by a Tree Preservation Order.

Fabulous, thank you!
xx

But, Beverley, I am told we must not forget:-
"For every foot of hedge height, there are ten horizontal feet of shelter. Since plants on exposed sites suffer more from wind than from cold, the shelter created by a hedge can allow the cultivation of tender plants."
Cheers
Les

Leylandii became popular some years ago and personally, while they might be okay if you have an ENORMOUS garden, I think they are a darn (being polite!) nuisance. My neighbour has 2 of them in his back garden, both must be over 40ft tall now and the one closest to my side has ruined my garden, nothing will grow near it. The earth beneath is rock hard because even the rain can't reach there plus, I have to rake up all the 'droppings' from the tree. It's such a mess out in my back garden now it really gets me down. At one time there were plants all around my little garden and the lawn was lovely and lush but not any more :( Leylandii have become such a problem I believe there is a law now that if they are over a certain height and they are causing a nuisance, you can be forced to get them pruned or felled. Does anyone know if this is so?
Thanks, emm

I seem to think that the Leylandii law and the fox hunting law are one and the same.
You get it instead of decent education, NHS, railwa ys.
But then again you only get the law when its a useful diversionary tactic.
I would imagine the time is nearly right.
You do have my sympathies by the way. I know, from experience, how 30 scotch pines - shedding cones and pine needles, with the occasional branch or two - can drive you to despair.
Keep smiling. Cheers
Les

Hi all,

The High Hedges Bill got taken into the Antisocial Behaviour Act - however, the section on High Hedges has yet to be brought into force.

It will not, as I read it, relate to trees - but to hedges on boundaries and will require the owner to serve a notice on the neighbout requiring the hedge to be brought down to a certain height... if they do not comply then they can apply to the Local Authority to take enforcement action - but that action will be discretionary...

Beverly, do not assume that just because the tree species is Leylandii that it will not be protected. There is no definition of tree in the Tree Preservation Order legislation and the courts have held that anything normally recognised as a tree is one as is "anything that the public would recognise as a tree"... Leylandii is known as a specimin tree and therefore if your property is in a Conservation Area it will automatically be protected - otherwise only if it has a TPO on it... You can ask your LPA if the tree is TPO'd but this could tip your hand that you want to fell it and make them list it...

However, if the tree pre dates your house you could get even more problems by removing it that leaveing it put... for instance it takes up a considerable amount of moisture from the soil - if removed that moisture has to go somewhere - usually into something called heave - where you get even more earth distrubance... you would not only be advised to contact a tree surgeon but also a structural engineer before felling.

Angela

Have you asked the neighbour if he/she would have consider having serveral feet chopped off the tree. Explain that it is ruining your garden. Perhaps they do not realise your problem.

That is a good thought but topping the tree would make it seem misshapen and also would encourage it too bush out at the bottom more...

I think offering the neighbour to pay for them to be felled and replaced with a more suitable species - such as a cornus or ornamental tree would be better.

Angela